a link in the chain

One of my school projects that I am most proud of was entitled "Rebecca: A Link in the Chain".

It was for a Theology Class we had back in second year in University. We were asked to pick an Old Testament Biblical character to feature on our end-of-term paper. Problem is, we have to think of a character real fast before somebody else gets to the teacher first with the same character you have in mind which meant that you have to think of another Biblical character which by then the only choices left to you would only have to be the obscure ones.

One thing I'm proud of: I acted on a whim. I was among the first FIVE to submit (out of almost 40 I think). And yet I didn't choose the most prominent of them Biblical characters - the Patriarchs and Prophets. I chose a Matriarch - Rebecca who didn't get that much "air time" I think. And yet I don't want to feature anybody else other than her. I still have no idea in mind how to present my paper but I was set on her. Sooo set on her.

Second thing I'm proud of: coining the "link in the chain" title. Haha, silly yes, but I actually thought I was very original with it. I haven't read the phrase anywhere yet, nor heard it. I just know that you need to "connect" something together for it to become a chain. And I thought "link" is the best word. I asked two of my most brilliant classmates what do you call "that" word which "connects" things to make a chain - no answer. But I was dead set convinced on "link". It is funny and amazing how now, 12 years after, (and it is only now that ) I seem to be reading quite a lot of the very same phrase, "link in the chain". Great thing about it is that I only get to read it among my really good reads and great literature.

Oh by the way, I got a 98% for that paper and it was modeled around by my teacher for the other classes to see. ^___^

Sometimes, acting out on a whim really does me good. And oh, I pray a lot whilst being whimsical by the way. =P

music is medicine

I had goosebumps when Gupta talked about the schizophrenic musician...
Yes, music does affect us profoundly so I am really thankful for all those gifted ones who give us beautiful music.

Farewell thee, my clothes

I've been told time and again that I have quite a LOT of clothes. Even a special friend told me I shouldn't get fat since I have quite a number of clothes and all those clothes would go off-spec if I ever get fat. Well if truth be told, I am having a hard time now in organizing my clothes in my cabinet since clearly there's not enough space anymore. Although I think it's not because I really have innumerable clothes in store. I think it's more like I have difficulty in parting with my old clothes and I hesitate in giving them away. It's not out of selfishness that I don't want to share clothes which I don't use a lot anymore and that I don't give it away to those who need it much more than I would. It's just that those clothes has been part of me for a long time already, has been with me in moments in the past and are parts of my memories. They contain a part of me. And that's the difficult part. Parting with something precious to me because it's been a part of me.

But then again, since I haven't worn some of the clothes already or that some of them haven't even been aired out for some time now, some of them are already discolored. Some of them may go to waste already if not remedied asap. When I saw some discolored clothes, somewhere inside me twinged because those clothes could have been put into use, if not by me, but by someone else who needs it more. And surely you would feel bad right if "a part of you" would just rot away?

So rather than keep those little mementos of me in the cabinet where they will just rot their while away, I think it would be better to give them away and share them. At least, they'd be made more special if they can be put to use. If those "little mementos" of me can be of help to others, then it'd be better.

Kiss From A Rose (my cover)

para sa imo

3 decades!!

And I've finally made the crossover.

It's been three decades full of blessings and love. So thankful, very thankful!

And in the next three decades or so, this I cling on:
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

plans

My birthday is up in 9 days! Will have the great crossover then - the great crossover when I'll be leaving the 20s. Have no specific plans yet. But am excited about it already!

My cover on "Soulmate"

was bored hence I decided to record my cover of Natasha Beddingfield's "Soulmate"

dessert!

I just had a session with my dentist for my monthly orthodontics check-up hence I was in the lookout for soft food -- my newly adjusted braces is just killing me and my teeth from the pain.

Hence, I opted for Pizza Hut for their Lasagna. It was good, although I still think Greenwich' lasagna tastes waaaaay better.

But what made me happy with my lunch at Pizza Hut was my Mango Panna Cotta.

Panna Cotta is basically an Italian dessert which literally means "cooked cream". It is made by cooking slowly together milk, cream, sugar and gelatin just below boiling point.

Pizza Hut's Panna Cotta is set amidst rich mango puree with sweet real mango slices and a cherry on top. Although I would have preferred the "cooked cream" to be aesthetically more velvety smooth as you cut a slice into it, the taste was just velvety smooth though. The mango flavor blended right with the panna cotta flavor that it was just a riot of pleasant flavors in my palate.

Yum indeed!

(this post is also posted in my goodfoodhunt.wordpress.com foodblog site)

relaxin'

In crowded Metro Manila where a nice, peaceful park is such a rare find, I found my haven this afternoon. Been looking for a place for the longest time now where I can enjoy the lovely late afternoon sun, blue sky and refreshing wind. And I finally found it this afternoon at the rooftop of Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop in Commercial Avenue, Alabang.

My chai tea latte and the lovely blue sky. The sunset this afternoon was a warm orange glow; warms the heart as well.

A HERO!

Kat brought this news, a train incident in Koenji Station in Tokyo, to my awareness this evening. And I can't stop but be in awe with the hero, be immensely amazed with the man in the story who saved the woman's life by his bravery and quick thinking. WOW, WOW - is all I can say.

She owes her second lease to life to this young man. And I can only hope there would be more men like him in this world.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/man-saves-drunk-woman-from-oncoming-train-after-she-falls-onto-tracks

seesaws and swings

I never did like the seesaw when I was a kid. Of course any other kid would want to be on the "up" side. But then much of your happiness on being on the "up" side depends on the kid on the other end of the seesaw. It was not only the being up and down that is dependent on the other kid. The rythmn as well as the speed of being on the up and down was dependent on your playmate as well. I remember making a number of strategies, sort of cheating, yes, just so I would always be on top or at least just be on the same level with the other kid - if I can't be on top then the other kid can't be on top as well. Hence, I cunningly adjust my seating position from the central axis depending on the weight of the kid on the other end. Hence, it was not always a fun game.

I liked the swing better, even up to now (although my liking it up to now has a bit of the romantic in me working). I think why I liked it better as a kid was that you can be happy on your own. If you want to be as high and as "up" as you want to be you can just propel yourself as hard as you can. If you want to slow things down, you can just use your feet as break and you're swinging in slow motion already. You can be up whenever you like. And when you want to slow things down, it will also be at your own pace. I loved it.

But in a way, it is lonely. You are enjoying it, alone.

The seesaw would be good now. As long as you don't mind being on the downside sometimes just so your partner can be on the up side. This would be okay as long as your partner would also be happy to have you on the up side for as long as you want to. You can keep the seesaw going for as long as you and your partner wants. There would be no cheating now. It should be a matter of give and take. Being mindful of your partner's happiness as your partner is mindful of yours. Give and take.

HVD

A happy Valentine's Day to one and all! =)

Spread a little love around. Spread happiness around.

Milkshakes (Before Sunrise)

I super like the "Milkshakes" poem in the movie "Before Sunrise" :
Daydream delusion
Limousine eyelash
Oh, baby with your pretty face
Drop a tear on my wineglass
Look at those big eyes
See what you mean to me
Sweet cakes and milkshakes
I am a delusion angel
I am a fantasy parade
I want you to know what I think
Don't want you to guess anymore
You have no idea where I came from
We have no idea where we're going
Launched in life
Like branches in the river
Flowing downstream
Caught in the current
I'll carry you. You'll carry me
That's how it could be
Don't you know me?
Don't you know me by now?



(credit to Onipsi for uploading)

you'll be blessed

My friend is now currently assigned overseas at site office hence he wouldn't be with his ladylove this Valentine's. Thoughtful as he is, he thought of ideas on how to surprise her on lovers' day which of course included asking favors from friends. I was tasked to buy flowers and chocolates.

The flowers were easy as they can be delivered to the office tomorrow by Designer's Bloom. the chocolates were a problem. I need to wrap them. Gift-wrapping section (with pay) in SM is already closed for the day and the only other open service is exclusive for those "Premium" card holders only. I didn't bother to apply for a shopper's card so I don't have that. Hence I can't avail their free gift-wrapping service. My dilemma is that I really suck with gift-wrapping. I can sing, I can dance, I can even do voice-over acting. And I'll write. But anything related to handicrafts, anything related to arts crafted by my hand is a total disaster - even as simple as gift-wrapping. So giving my friend's ladylove a chocolate giftwrapped by me was worrisome.

My dilemma must have been written all over my face that the clerk in the gift-wrapping section offered to wrap my gift for me, for free, using their resources (he even asked me to choose what wrapper would I like! and of course it wasn't illegal since I also bought the chocolates on the same store) and even wrapping it with such careful and artful detail that I can't help but deeply thank him and give him a really big smile while saying an incredibly genuine "you'll be blessed!".

I wanted to give him a tip but he wouldn't accept as (he said) they are forbidden to receive tips from shoppers and customers. Now THAT's great customer service. Bless him.

H2S and Benzene

I got really angry with this conversation. But since I was the only one who felt most passionate with it and i'm the youngest to boot at that, having the youngest experience at site, and we were really talking with one of the higher ups, I just held my peace during the meeting. But really....!!

This was during a meeting after we just got back from our site walk-through:

Us: We were not able to thoroughly check those areas which were strictly marked as H2S and Benzene areas since we don't have the required PPE and detectors.
Boss: But were there any evacuations that occurred at that time because of some leak? There were none? So it was safe.

I was definitely fuming with that. I wanted to retort and tell him to go to site himself and check on the place without the necessary PPE and detectors. With the kind of mentality he has, let's see if he'll come out alive. I want to shove to him the news about the death at that particular site just two years ago because of H2S related death.

I am most definitely not gonna risk my life just for that!!!! Grrrr!